Beginning Teacher Licensure
1. How do I convert my Initial teaching license to a Standard license? (Public School)
 You need to participate in a mentoring and induction program, successfully meet the
Iowa Teaching Standards, as determined by a comprehensive evaluation at the end
of your second year of teaching, and apply to convert your license with the Board of
Educational Examiners.
2. Where do I find the form?
 Any forms required by the Board of Educational Examiners can be found on their
website: http://www.iowa.gov/boee/.
 There is also a licensure handbook available on their website that will answer many
questions.
3. Do I need any credits while I have an Initial license?
 While you are on an Initial license, you do not need to take any credits to renew it,
and any credits you earn before obtaining your Standard license will not count for
subsequent renewals.
4. What if my Initial license expires before I finish my second year of teaching?
 If your license expired during your first year of teaching, you need to renew it. This
will give you another two-year Initial license.
 If your license expires before Mar. 31st your second year of teaching, you need to
apply to extend your Initial license. This will get you through the rest of the school
year.
 If your license expires after Mar. 31st your second year of teaching, you can apply to
convert to a Standard license anytime after Apr. 1st if you’ve had your
comprehensive evaluation and meet the Iowa Teaching Standards.
 If you license expires on Mar. 31st your second year of teaching, you can apply to
convert to a Standard license if you’ve had your comprehensive evaluation and meet
the Iowa Teaching Standards, but need to be sure to send it in the last week of
March. You can’t send it in earlier as the BOEE doesn’t count a full year of teaching
until Apr. 1, but you can’t send it in later because it will be expired.
5. Can’t I let my teaching license expire for a short time?
 If you let your Iowa license expire while under contract in Iowa, you will have to pay
up to $150 in late fees along with the regular application fee.
6. How do I know when does my license expire?
 The expiration date is printed on your license. You can also view this information
and find your folder number on the BOEE website listed above.
 The Initial license is a 2-year license; the Standard and Master Educator licenses are
good for five years.
7. What is a conditional license?
 A conditional license (Class B or Administrative Decision) allows you to teach in an
area in which you are not fully prepared on the condition that you take classes
toward full certification.
 Your employer must sign off the request for the conditional license. If you are
working toward a new endorsement, but aren’t currently teaching that area, you do
not need the conditional.
 For a Class B license, you must have already completed at least two-thirds of the
requirements or one-half in a shortage area. If you don’t meet these requirements,
the district can request an Administrative Decision license.

You can extend your Class B license if you’ve made progress toward completion of
the endorsement, but need more time. There is no extension of an Administrative
Decision license.
 Some conditional licenses require programs of study – a listing of classes you need
for a particular endorsement. You can get this from a certification officer at a
college/university after evaluation of your transcripts.
8. How do I add an endorsement to my license?
 You can either go through a college/university or work with the BOEE directly.
 If you go through a college/university, you’ll work with the certification
officer in the education department.
 If you work directly with the BOEE, you download the specific endorsement
checklist from the BOEE website.
 Credits for an endorsement do not have to be graduate credit.
9. Does adding an endorsement automatically renew my license?
 No, renewal is a separate process and requires a separate fee. However, the courses
you took toward an endorsement will count for renewal if you took them during the
term of the license you are renewing.
 To count the credits, the ending date of the course needs to be after the issue date
and before the expiration date of the license.
 If you’ve already submitted transcripts to the BOEE for the endorsement, they will
be on file and you would not need to submit them again for renewal.
10. I have a Standard license and have all the credits I need to renew now, even though my
license doesn’t expire until next year. Can I renew?
 You can renew your license up to a year in advance of the expiration date.
 The renewal form is available for download online or you can renew a Standard or
Master Educator license online.
11. What are the different kinds of teacher license?
 There are three basic kinds of licenses issued by the BOEE. These typically will
expire the last day of the month in which your birthday falls.
 The Initial license is issued to anyone who has verified less than 2 years of
teaching.
 You convert the Initial license to a Standard license. A Standard license is
good for 5 years and requires six credits to renew.
 If you have a Master’s degree and at least 5 years of teaching experience,
you can convert your Standard license to a Master Educator license. It is
good for 5 years and requires four credits to renew.
 A conditional (Class B) or Administrative Decision license is only valid if one of the
above licenses is active. It typically has a different expiration date.
12. Where do I find credits?
 To renew a license you can take any combination of renewal credits and college
credits.
 Licensure renewal credits are available through the AEA.
 College credits can be from any regionally accredited institute of higher
education.
 For purpose of renewal, you are not required to take graduate credit.
 Courses you take should add depth/breadth to your endorsements or teaching
assignment.